Mary Taylor announces run for Ohio governor in 2018

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said Friday in Cleveland that she plans to run for governor in 2018, making her the fourth Republican candidate to officially jump in the race.

In her prepared remarks at the City Club of Cleveland, Taylor said she would build on the progress made during current Gov. John Kasich's tenure in office, and recounted her political and professional background. While laying out her plans to tackle the ongoing opioid crisis, she referenced the fact that her own adult sons both have struggled with addiction.

"When I'm governor, I will continue to give my full commitment to confront the addiction epidemic," she said. "It has touched so many families, including mine. There is no commitment closer to my heart than this one."

Taylor praised Kasich as a "good man," and said Ohio has "dug itself out of a hole" during his tenure. Her comments shed light on her plans to tackle the political riddle posed by her relationship with Kasich. While other GOP candidates for governor to varying degrees have sought to align themselves with President Donald Trump and his supporters, Kasich, as he nears the end of his tenure, has emerged as perhaps Trump's most prominent Republican critic. And while Kasich remains popular in Ohio, it's not entirely clear how Republican primary voters will view him next year. There's also the general issue of whether Republican voters will view Taylor as too "status quo" and a continuation of the Kasich administration.

During the question-and-answer period of the event, a self-identified "conservative Republican" further pressed Taylor on how right-leaning critics of the governor should view her, given her role in the Kasich administration.

"I'm my own individual," Taylor responded, leaning on her prepared talking points. "I bring my own life experience, I bring my own professional experience. I served with a man who I believe cares deeply about the state of Ohio, and served the state to the best of his ability. I don't agree with my husband 100 percent of the time... And I haven't always agreed with this governor, but I respect the man and I respect the position."

There's another wrinkle to the Kasich-Taylor relationship. A leaked memo shows some Kasich allies considered whether to punish her after she switched sides late last year and backed a Trump-backed challenger's effort to oust Kasich's hand-picked Ohio Republican Party chairman. But Kasich has been steadfast in his public support.

Taylor, a 51-year-old certified public accountant, is a former state auditor, state representative and Green (Summit County) city councilwoman. She has served as lieutenant governor since 2011, when she and Kasich were elected on a joint ticket. While she had a soft launch of her candidacy in February, when she formed a statewide campaign committee and announced her intention to run, Friday's event marked the official start of her campaign.

If she wins, Taylor would be the first woman elected governor of Ohio. Nancy Hollister is Ohio's first female governor, but she served less than two weeks as a placeholder after then-Gov. George Voinovich was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998.

Three other prominent Republicans have announced they are running for governor -- Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, Attorney General Mike DeWine and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, of Wadsworth.

The Democrats who have announced include former State Rep. Connie Pillich, of the Cincinnati area, Youngstown-area State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.